Locking swivel hanger



Sept. 26, 1961 c. J. BAUDER 3,001,634

LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER Filed. Dec. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l i INVENTOR.

L 04m J- anuoez A 43 '42 Byl w A TTORNE Y Sept. 26, 1961 c. J. BAUDER3,001,634

LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER Filed Dec. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

(Jaw A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,001,634 LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER CarlJ. Bauder, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No.859,287 6 Claims. (Cl. 198177) This invention relates generally totransporting devices and more particularly to a selectively rotatedmonorail conveyor hanger.

Formerly, monorail conveyors carried racks which held parts on oppositesides, requiring an equal number of men acting as loaders and unloaderson both sides of the conveyor. It is desirable to have the articlesrotated on their vertical axes as their movement along the conveyortakes place. This rotation helps eliminate the requirement of men alongboth sides of the conveyor line. Furthermore, such rotation should takeplace automatically at predetermined intervals in accordance with thetype of operation being conducted. A positive method of locking themonorail carried swivel hanger in one position is desired so as not toturn the article carried constantly as. it moves along the conveyor.

Efiicient high speed plant operation requires a minimum number ofoperators between each manufacturing operation. It is old in the art toaccomplish a rotation of monorail hook hangers controlled by theengagement or horizontal arms against fixed projections along thedirection of travel. However, known apparatus associated with a monorailsystem and formerly used does not insure that the hangers are locked inthe proper position automatically before entering a machine or an arearequiring a particular position of the article being processed.

The objects of this invention are to provide a swivel hanger rotatedremotely and positively locked in a predetermined position toselectively latch and nnlatch a rotating hanger in position as it ismoved and rotated along a conveyor system; to provide a system ofhangers mounted on a carrier to cooperate with trip mechanisms forchanging the position of the hangers at intervals While the hangers arelatched toa predetermined position in the interim between theseintervals; and to provide an improvel swivel hanger which issubstantially automatic, foolproof, smooth and efiicient in use anddesign and which permits increased production with a minimum number ofmanual operations.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to persons familiar with the art to which this inventionrelates from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying,

drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention and in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a view of the parts of the structure ofthe present invention in disassembled, separated relation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my inventionwith a monorail conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a, fragmentary front elevation of the structure embodying thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of an operating means associatedwitha swivel hanger of the present invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in different figures ofthe drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a substantially rectangular adapter has aplurality of holes 11 in its upper portion thereof. The monorailconveyor 12, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, has the adapter 19 boltedthereto and is in turn bolted between trolley wheel plates (not-Fatente-i Sept. 25, 1961 ECG shown). A down-pending threaded shaft 13 isfixedly attached to the lower portion of adapter 10.

. Locking latch 14 is substantially oblong in shape and is pivotallyattached to the adapter 10 by the bolt 16 and the nut 17 through theadapted hole 18. A latch handle 15 is provided on the latch 14 extendingat right angles thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the locking latch 14may be pivoted to an upper position, as shown 1n phantom lines. Theadapter-locking latch portion forms an upper sub-assembly which does notchange position relative to the monorail conveyor 12.

A clevis 20, including an enlarged body portion 21, has a substantiallyrectangular opening 22 extending transversely therethrough. Anupstanding post 23 extends vertically from the upper portion of theclevis body 21 and terminates in a square head 24. The axial bore 25extends from the square head 24 and terminates at the clevis bodyopening 22. A plurality of down-pending bifurcated ears 26 extend fromthe lower portion of the clevis body 21 and are provided to receive ahook 27 which is schematically shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of camplates or bars 28 are fixedly secured to the clevis post 23 at thepoints 39 and 31. These cam plates or bars 28 are set at to each other;however, this position may be varied according to the amount of rotationdesired for the rotating clevis 20 with a corresponding change in theshape of the head 24. The fact that the camming plates or bars 28 are atdifferent elevations assures that the clevis may be positioned andlocked with the camming plates last contacting a line parallel with theconveyor.

The camming plate assembly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes an upperand lower cam plate in spaced relation, having fiat surfaces 29 whichaid in insuring rotation of the clevis only through a desired arc.

The clevis 20 and camming plates or bars 28 form a 28 and the clevis 20by passing through the post bore 25 and terminating in the clevisopening 22. When the locking latch 14 is in the lower position, itengages the square head 24 to lock the clevis 28. A thrust washer isrotatably positioned on the adapter shaft 13 and is retained by acastellated nut 33 and a cotter pin 34 extending transversely throughthe nut 33 and adapter shaft 13. The thrust washer 32 reduces the effortrequired to turn the hanger and also reduces Wear.

In the assembled position and with the locking latch in the upperposition shown in FIG. 2, the lower subassembly can be rotated relativeto the upper sub-assembly by means of the cam plates 28.

Operation The operation of the rotating swivel hanger is bestillustrated by the diagrammatic plan view shown in FIG. 4. Referencecharacter 40 designates the center line of the monorail conveyor 12 withthe direction of travel being from left to right. The hanger is lockedin a predetermined position, and in this case the upper and lowercamming plates 28 are located parallel and perpendicular to the conveyormovement direction, respectively. Reference character A indicates themovement of a point onthe swivel hanger in the clockwise direction as itis being selectively rotated As the hanger moves along the conveyor, thelatch handle 15, which extends beyond the camming plates 28, is pivotedupwardly by an actuator 41, and locking latch 14 is then kept in theupper position as shown in FIG. 2. This action unlocks the clevis,whereupon the lower sub-assembly is rotatable relative to the uppersub-assembly. A lower projection 43' adjusted to the height of the lowercam plate is contaeted and the clevis is rotated 90". It can rotate only90 due to the flat surfaces 44 on the projection. faces and surfaces 29on the camming plates. The. rate of rotation is controlled by the rateat which the projection face approaches the monorail. After rotating 90,the lower cam plate is parallel to. the direction of the con veyor andthe upper cam plate is perpendicular. An upper projection 42, identicalto the lower projection 43 ,v is. positioned at the height of the uppercam plate and again the clevis rotates 90. The engagement of the flatsurfaces 29 and corresponding flat surfaces 44 on the upper and lowerprojections 42 and 43, respectively, prevent iurther rotation by theinertia of the rotating clevis. The actuator 41, controlling theposition of the latch 14, then allows the latch to drop over the squarehead 24 on the top of the clevis 29 to lock'it in its new position.

It is apparent to one familiar in the art that the angle of the cammingplates 28 relative to each other may be i changed to any desired degreein order to perform a -r -o-- tation consistent with the type ofoperation to be con ducted at the succeeding machine or process area.The shape of the head 24 must also be changed in accordance with theangle change of the camming plates 28. Also, the location of the lowerand upper projections 42 and 43- and the number of the projections maybe varied. along the monorail conveyor 12 to selectively determine thetime for rotation of the lower sub-assembly.

The invention as defined in the appended claims is; to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope;

I claim:

1. In a monorail apparatus including the combination of a monorailmounted adapter, a clevis rotativelysecured to said adapter, cam platescarried by said clevis,. and cam actuators in spaced relation to saidcam plates engageable with and selectively rotating said camplates, the.improvement comprising a latching means pivotally attached to saidadapter and engaging said clevis means to positively lock the sameagainst rotation relative to said adapter, a'handle means on saidlatching. means and operating said latching means out of engagement withsaid clevis means whereby said latching means may be disengaged fromsaid clevis means rendering said clevis means rotatable relative to saidadapter, and: cam;

- ming means comprising a cam located adjacent said monm rail apparatusfor raising said handle means to thereby disengage said latching means.

a 2.. -In a rotative hanger device, the combination of a monorailcarried adapter, a hook receiving clevis member rotatively secured tosaid adapter, said clevis member including an upstanding post having anaxial passageway terminating in a keeper portion, means for rotatingsaid clevis-memberfixedly secured to. said clevis post, a. latch. ingmeans pivotally attached to said adapter and engaging said keeperportion to positively lock the same in a predetermined position, saidlatching means having a cam engaging extension, and operating means todisengage said latching means from said keeper portion whereby saidclevis member may be rotated relative to said adapter, said operatingmeans comprising a cam located adjacent said hanger device and adaptedto contact said cam engaging extension to pivot said latching meansintothe unlatched position.

3. A swivel hanger comprising the combination of an said clevis havingan upstanding post terminating in alatch engaging square head and havinga first axially extending opening therethrough and a secondsubstantially rectangular transverse opening intercepting said axialopening, said axial opening receiving said adapter shaft, a thrustwasher and locking device received at the lower extremity of saidadapter shaft; within said transverse opening, operating means securedto said latch for pivoting the same whereby said latch may be pivotedupwardly out of engagement with said clevis square head to allow saidlower sub-assembly to be rotated relative to said upper sub-assembly,and a cam located adjacent said swivel hanger to thereby contact saidlatch operating means to pivot said latch into the unlatched position.

4. A swivel hanger comprising a clevis. having a body portion with hookreceiving ears extending downwardly from either side thereof and a postextending upwardly. therefrom and terminating in a square portion, said,post including an axial opening therethrough, said clevis formed 'withan opening extending transversely throughv said body portion and.intercepting said axial opening, camming plates arranged at to eachother and secured to the extremities of said clevis post, a lockinglatch located above said camming plates and engaging said square portionof said clevis post, an adapter having a threaded shaft extendingdownwardly from one end thereof and through said axial opening in saidclevis post, said adapter shaft interlocking said locking latch, cammingplates and clevis and terminating in said clevis body portion opening, athrust washer and. locking nut within said transverse opening andreceived at the lower end of said adapter shaft to secure said shaft to.said clevis, means pivotally mounting said locking latch to. saidadapter, and an operating handle for said locking latch extendingtransversely of said hanger whereby said locking latch may be pivotedout of engagementwith said square portion of said clevis post to permitrotation of said camming plates and said clevis.

5. A swivel hanger comprising a clevis for supporting [parts to beconveyed, an adapter having an. extending shaft for rotatably securingsaid clevis toa monorail, said clevis having an extending post thatmounts an upper and a lower cam plate, and a latching means. forselectively locking the clevis with respect, to the-adapter, said latchmeans comprising a latch pivotally attached to saidprevent rotation ofthe clevis with respect tome-adapter,-

camming means for pivoting said latch means into an unlatched positionto allow rotation of the clevis with re-. spect to the adapter, saidupper and lower cam plates being adapted to contact an upper and alowercam actuator mounted adjacent the swivel hanger torotate the clevis withrespect to said adapter when the latch means is in an unlatchedposition, said actuators. having an initial portion that rotates the camplates, and a subsequent flat horizontal portion that positions. the camplates horizontally to thereby align the. latch and the head. to assurepositive engagement of said latch over said head.

6. In a monorail apparatus including the combination of a monorailmounted adapter, a clevis rotatably secured to said adapter, camplatescarried by said clevis, and cam actuators in spaced relationship to saidcam plates engageable with and selectively rotating said cam plates, theimprovement comprising a latching means pivotally attached to saidadapter, said latching means having a portion engageable with saidclevis means to positively lock the same against rotation when saidlatching means is in the downward position and av cam engagingextensionadapted to. pivot said latching means upwardly to unlatch said latchingmeans from said clevis thereby rendering said; clevis means rotatablerelative to said adapter, saidextension. adapted to be raised bycamming. means comprising a cam track located adjacent said ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rayburn May 24,1949 6 Whitcroft Jan. 23, 1951 Conner May 15, 1951 Rainier Dec. 2, 1952Juyinall Nov. 6, 1956 Juvinall Aug. 13, 1957 Peters June 16, 1959

